An Unexpected Workout

For me this is a bad time of year, sure some people struggle with Christmas, others with the 4th of July.  For us teachers, it’s graduation time.  It’s not that graduation itself is unhealthy; it’s the storm of open houses that are attended each Saturday from the second week of May until the second week of June. Most of them are the same, you go, you sit, and everyone wants you to eat their pulled pork, or party subs, chips, cookies and of course the cake with the graduates picture in the middle. 

Sure, no one forces you to eat but everyone expects you to no matter how many open houses you go to.  In the end, you are left trying to walk the line between being polite without going over your calorie count for the day.  But as you noticed today’s post isn’t entitled “My Awesome Day of Cake”. Today I went to an open house for the school’s foreign exchange student who is heading back to Sweden.  I arrived a little late, just as everyone was finishing eating.  She was a member of the volleyball team and wanted her classmates to join in an end of the year volleyball game.  However, they were a few players short and they asked their teacher to join them.  

Well it’s been a few years, but back in 1995 I was a summer camp beach volleyball champion.  (Actually we came in 3rd place but it makes me sound much better if we were champs).  So I joined in what I thought would be a short game of volleyball.  Two hours later, I finally walked off the court.  My heart rate was up, and the sweat was pouring.  Better workouts then I’ve had in a while.

Now sure how I played.  I probably didn’t look like this guy, I can’t jump that high off a trampoline.  But I did hold my own against a bunch of high school students and some 20 something guy who joined the other team to even things out; and had a great time doing it!

One thing I am happy about is that I joined in.  Just a year ago I would have found an excuse not to be a part.  (I also would have shown up on time and eaten cake) But I am no longer the man I was.  I played, I put myself out there, at 310 I know I still look like a fat man on the court to those watching, but to me I felt like that guy spiking the ball a foot over the net.  

Today didn’t go as planned; my Power 90 didn’t arrive as I had hoped.  Nor was I able to get my gym ready to start working out on Monday.  I ended up hanging out at an open house, and playing a silly game. I’m happy I did.  Tomorrow I’ll get the gym set up and try to post pictures of where I’ll be working out.  Then Monday, I’m off to the races!!!